Cannabis Use Associated with 53% Lower Mortality in Hospitalized Chronic Pancreatitis Patients | Research

The takeaway

Among 907,790 hospitalized chronic pancreatitis patients, cannabis users had significantly lower odds of mortality, ICU admission, blood clots, and pancreatic cancer.

gastroenterologists, pancreatitis researchers, medical cannabis investigators

What the researchers found

Cannabis use was associated with decreased odds of mortality (aOR 0.47, p<0.001), DVT (aOR 0.71, p<0.001), pulmonary embolism (aOR 0.622, p=0.002), ICU admission (aOR 0.705, p<0.001), and pancreatic cancer (aOR 0.730, p=0.021). No differences in AKI, sepsis, or acute pancreatitis between groups.

Why it matters

Cannabis has known anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. This large database study suggests cannabis use may be associated with reduced disease severity in chronic pancreatitis, though confounding factors make causal interpretation difficult.

The numbers in context

907,790 patients total. 52,360 cannabis users (5.8%). Mortality: aOR 0.47 (p<0.001). DVT: aOR 0.71 (p<0.001). PE: aOR 0.622 (p=0.002). ICU admission: aOR 0.705 (p<0.001). Pancreatic cancer: aOR 0.730 (p=0.021). No difference in AKI, sepsis, or acute pancreatitis.

How the study worked

Retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2016-2020). 907,790 chronic pancreatitis patients identified, 52,360 (5.8%) cannabis users. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for confounding factors.

What this study cannot tell us

Administrative database with coding limitations. Cannabis use likely underreported. Healthy user bias probable. Cannot determine causation. No data on dose, frequency, or type of cannabis. Unmeasured confounders likely.

How to read the evidence

Very large national sample with significant associations, but administrative data limitations and likely confounding place evidence at moderate.

When this study was published

NIS data from 2016-2020.

The bigger picture

The dramatically lower mortality (53% reduction) is striking but may reflect healthy user bias, age differences, or unmeasured confounders. Cannabis users in administrative databases tend to be younger and may have fewer comorbidities. These associations should be considered hypothesis-generating.

Questions still open

Is the mortality reduction a real cannabis effect or a reflection of healthier users?
Could cannabinoid anti-inflammatory properties explain the associations with disease severity?

Common questions

Does cannabis treat pancreatitis?

This study found associations between cannabis use and better outcomes, but cannot prove cannabis caused the improvements. Cannabis users tend to be younger and may be healthier overall, which could explain the findings.

Should pancreatitis patients use cannabis?

This observational study cannot make treatment recommendations. The associations are interesting but require controlled trials to determine if cannabis actually improves pancreatitis outcomes.

Read the original research

Cannabis Use and Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis.

Journal of gastrointestinal and liver diseases : JGLD, 34(2), 220-226

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Sohal, Aalam; Thind, Nuhar; Billing, Harbir Singh; Iqbal, Humzah; Menon, Rohan; Kumar, Vikash; Sohal, Aalam; Yang, Juliana. (2025). Cannabis Use and Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis.. Journal of gastrointestinal and liver diseases : JGLD, 34(2), 220-226. https://doi.org/10.15403/jgld-6066